ELON – Elon opens the 2026 college baseball season with a three-game home series against former CAA foe Delaware.
It's the fourth time in five seasons that the Phoenix opens its season at Latham Park, with the lone exception coming in last year's trip to face then-No. 1 Texas A&M in College Station.
Elon hosted Delaware last season as well, with the Blue Hens taking two of three games between March 28-30. A Friday night win by the Phoenix proved to be the difference in the long run however, as Elon finished one game ahead of Delaware in the 2025 CAA standings.
Friday's season opener and Sunday's series finale will both be streamed on FloCollege.
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- Senior Jackson Alford returns as Elon's top hitter after an All-CAA campaign in 2025 that saw him start all 57 games. Among Phoenix batters last season, Alford finished tied for first in runs scored (62), second in doubles (14), second in extra-base hits (23), second in total bases (105), third in hits (66), third in stolen bases (11), third in slugging percentage (.451), third in OPS (.825) and fourth in batting average (.283). His 62 runs scored were the most runs scored in a season by an Elon player since 2009. Alford was a 2026 preseason All-CAA honorable mention.
- Following a 25-32 (13-14 CAA) season in 2025, Elon was picked in a tie for fourth in the 2026 CAA preseason poll.
- Three starting position players return for the Phoenix, including redshirt junior outfielder Vince Fattore (87 games, 79 starts).
- The Phoenix will debut a revamped weekend rotation with Brian Strange taking over Friday's starting duties in the mound. Strange made 20 starts in two seasons at Southeast Missouri State, including a win in the 2024 NCAA Baseball Regionals against Louisiana Tech. Graduate Cole Hansen, Elon's Sunday starter, made 33 starts at Seton Hall and has pitched 192 collegiate innings.
- Hank Krift and Jake Hajdu are two sophomores who return to the weekend rotation and lineup, respectively, in their second seasons as Phoenix. Krift made 22 appearances and eight starts on the mound for the Phoenix during his freshman season while Hajdu became a regular starter at shortstop and finished his freshman year with a 5-for-9 performance at the CAA Tournament.
- Head coach Mike Kennedy enters his 30th season at the helm of Elon Baseball. After earning 25 wins last season, Kennedy has led the Phoenix to 24 seasons of 25 wins or more. Kennedy is a 2025-26 Elon Sports Hall of Fame inductee.
- Elon has a 17-12 series advantage over Delaware. The Phoenix has won nine of the last 11 matchups against the Blue Hens including nine straight wins from April 13, 2019-March 28, 2025.
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